Tech developers know this and have tried to recreate the sensations of human touch in everything from vibrating video game controllers to massage chairs. But if you’ve ever been in the company of a real human being who gave you a pat on the back, held your hand or placed their arm around you, you know there’s nothing that quite compares to it.

Here are 5 reasons you need to experience physical human touch every single day to ensure both mental and physical health.

Physical touch is crucial for communication.

From the light punch your best friend gives you while cracking a joke to the hand a coworker places on your shoulder after a tough meeting, physical touch can add so much to a conversation.